Lagos govt sanctions 840 facilities over safety violations

The Lagos State Government says it has intensified safety enforcement, emergency response coordination, and welfare support for security personnel as part of efforts to strengthen public safety across the state.

The Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Olugbenga Oyerinde, disclosed this during the 2026 ministerial briefing held on Monday at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.

He highlighted the activities and achievements of agencies under the supervision of the ministry in the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The agencies include the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Lagos State Safety Commission, Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and the Lagos State Command and Control Centre.

Oyerinde said the Lagos State Safety Commission conducted 206 safety inspections of manufacturing facilities and carried out 11 safety audits of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, including facilities within the Safety Arena in Oshodi.

According to him, the commission also held 18 mediation meetings, sanctioned 12 facilities that failed to comply with safety directives within the stipulated moratorium period, and processed 50 new facilities for inspection.

He stated that the commission trained stakeholders on industrial safety, emergency response procedures, fire prevention, machine safety, occupational health, and accident prevention.

He added that the commission issued 49 provisional safety compliance certificates and 65 renewal bills for compliance certificates, while five public complaints and petitions were investigated and resolved.

On construction safety, the commissioner said the commission strengthened safety culture and achieved compliance certification at more than 3,500 construction sites between May 2025 and May 2026.

He further disclosed that 641 risk assessments and audits were conducted in hospitality facilities, including hotels, lounges, nightclubs, event centres, fine dining outlets, swimming pools, and game centres, following 842 letters issued by the commission.

The commissioner said safety marshals were deployed to more than 1,450 public and private events across the state.

Speaking on the welfare of security personnel, Oyerinde said the state government approved a two-stage increase in allowances for security operatives within the last three years.

He described the move as part of the government’s commitment to improving the welfare and working conditions of security personnel in the state.

Detailing the emergency response activities of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Oyerinde explained that Alimosho Local Government recorded the highest number of incidents, with 180 out of the 1,156 cases handled by the agency as of December 30, 2025.

He said Eti-Osa recorded 144 cases, followed by Ikeja with 139 cases, while Kosofe ranked fourth with 128 incidents.

According to him, the figures demonstrate the agency’s proactive emergency response approach and extensive operational coverage across the state.

Director of Compliance and Reform at the Lagos State Safety Commission, Kehinde Oluwafemi, said the agency sanctioned 840 facilities across hotels, parks, and construction sites over safety violations.

Oluwafemi cited the case of a worker identified simply as Joshua, whose hand was severed in an industrial accident in Ikorodu.

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“In Ikorodu, a machine cut off the hand of Mr Joshua. They petitioned the Ministry of Justice, and the matter was forwarded to us. We went to court and within two months secured N25 million compensation for him, while efforts are ongoing to provide a replacement for his hand,” he said.

He added that the commission had intensified advocacy and sensitisation campaigns to promote safety consciousness among residents and businesses.

Also speaking, the General Manager of the Lagos State Command and Control Centre, Femi Giwa, said nuisance and prank calls remained a challenge, but noted that all calls were treated as emergencies because response time was critical.

Giwa dismissed a viral video alleging that Lagos emergency officials failed to respond to distress calls, describing the claim as false.

“Our duty is to receive calls. We may not be the first responders, but we coordinate responses. We have been adjudged among the best emergency call takers in Africa,” he said.

Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, said the agency had intensified engagement with landlords, market leaders, and other stakeholders to reduce fire incidents across the state.

She said fire marshals inaugurated during a 2024 conference were already being deployed to strengthen fire prevention efforts and reduce attacks on firefighters during operations.

Adeseye recalled an incident on Lagos Island where fire service personnel were attacked by a mob while responding to an emergency.

“Whenever we respond to emergency calls now, we ensure police officers accompany our personnel to provide security,” she said.